Mr. Amoryasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that import licences for British textiles are not yet being granted by the Argentine Government; and whether he will take action to hasten the resumption of trade provided for in the recent trade agreement.
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§ Mr. H. WilsonI have now learnt that the granting of exchange permits for the import of woollen goods from the United Kingdom to the value of£3 million in 1948 was authorised by the Argentine Government on 31d May. I presume that the individual permits will now be issued as a matter of course. I am also informed that the Argentine Government have agreed to permit the import of cotton goods from the United Kingdom to the value of£3 million and of linen manufactures to the value of£1 million, and that the circulars authorising the granting of exchange permits will be issued in due course. Discussions are continuing between His Majesty's Embassy and the Argentine Government on the granting of exchange permits for other United Kingdom goods.